Christmas, a time of friendship. How do I choose friends?

I want to meditate on Christmas for the next few Devo’s. Looking at some different issues during this season. The first one is friendship. Christmas time is a time that most of us desire to be with family and friends. We do need the Lord’s help in balancing our friendships.

Probing Proverbs 12:26 The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.

I grew up watching the cowboy show, “The Lone Ranger.” The thing I remembered the most was the close friendship between him and his companion Tonto who was a Native American. The reason I remember their relationship so much was in that day “Cowboy and Indian” movies had them fighting against each other most times. However, whenever the Lone Ranger was in trouble he could count on his friend Tonto for help. Years later I heard this joke:

The Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding across the plains when off to the west they noticed a cloud of dust. It turned out to be a band of Indians galloping directly at them. They turned their horses around and headed east.  Pretty soon they saw another thick cloud of dust in front of them.  More Indians.  

They turned their horses north. But another cloud of dust revealed more Indians.  In desperation they turned their horses south and galloped off in that direction.  Once again, a choking cloud of dust revealed more Indians attacking from that direction.

Realizing they were surrounded the Lone Ranger looked at Tonto and asked, "What do we do now, Tonto?" Tonto glared back at him. "What do you mean `we' paleface?"

Obviously, that would not be a good example of friendship! Still, there is a point, the Tonto in this joke betrays his friend. This proverb warns us about that. In reality that is what is happening when someone leads you astray…betrayal!

Let’s consider what “friend” means.

Friend defined:

Regular Dictionary: - A person who you like and enjoy being with; a person who helps or supports someone or something; a person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

Urban Dictionary: People who are aware of how retarded you are and still manage to be seen in public with you. People who make you laugh till you pee your pants. People who cry for you when one of your special items disappear. When you don’t have enough money to get a ice cream, they chip in. They know all of your Internet passwords. They would never make you cry just to be mean.

Sadly, this term is also used to describe someone we connected with on the Internet…even though we don’t know them at all!

I find it important for my own benefit to give important words in my own life a deeper meaning than just a definition. So when I think of the word “friend” my meaning would be this: "A person that you know intimately and they want God’s best for you."

When it comes to friends we need to break that list down into two columns. This Proverb gives a sobering warning as to why. In both cases there is a friendship basis that exists. 

One friend gives “good” advice that will lead you toward God. 

The other friend gives advice that, if followed, will take you off the 

path that leads to God and godliness. The issue that needs to be confronted is how do I deal with the mixture of friends in my life. I believe you can break it down to two groups; those that you impact and those that impact you! 

God does not want us to separate from those that live far from Him, we are the only light they have! What God expects of us is to use discernment in the influence that is brought to bear into our lives.

The lack of this discernment is the cause of much misunderstanding of verses like:

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

The “Bad Company” needs the good news, if we separate ourselves from them, who will share that good news. A true friend joins you in the storms of life and remains with you! This verse has to do with “company” that will influence your life toward theirs instead of God’s. 

The other misunderstanding is that when we separate ourselves from the worldly, they feel judged and see us as self-righteous.

Be friends to all, and allow the Holy Spirit and your spiritual community help you discern which friends are you impacting and which ones are impacting you. I have friends I like very much, but when it comes to spiritual truth, when they speak, I listen, however, I do so with the intention of bringing the True Light into the conservation. Not because I am selling something, but because they are my friend and I firmly believe the only life                                                  there is, is one with Christ! 

I have other friends that speak truth into my life and the wonderful reality is that God has given me the measuring rod to make sure the advice leads to Him. The Scriptures are the standard that all advice can be weighed by. If the advice goes against the Word, don’t over react, just mark down that this person is not the one you want to influence your life at this time. Remember, that may change. I have seen friends come to a personal relationship with Christ, and soon afterward the Word of God confirms the spiritual wisdom they share. 

Be friendly…and be discerning!

The so what? Do you take time to evaluate your friendships, who is impacting who, and how? Can you name 1-3 friends that move you toward the Lord? Can you name 1-3 friends that have confused counsel, so you are praying how you can help them? Are you willing to have God bring you new friends in 2017, both that can impact you for good and those you can impact? Are you praying for that?